This and the excercising of Floyd's option is interesting. With the FA market at 3B and C, this gives them some flexibility with a deep staff and the ability to explore trades with guys like Quintana, Santiago, Leesman, Rodriguez and/or Floyd.

Welcome back Jake, and thanks for taking a bit of a discount (at least in years)!

I've never understood the rationale about trying to trade all the cheap guys who don't cost you anything and have upside.

Besides, with Floyd and Peavy signed, and the Sox already indicating that nine figures is the budget, they will need to jettison some of the bigger contracts to trade to fill 3B and other positions. It will be interesting to see what Hahn does with his first big trades.

Great news, did not expect him to stay but Peavy is a standup guy and probably figured he owed the Sox after being hurt for his first 3 years. If Danks comes back strong our pitching looks solid for 2013.

__________________ Batting in the second position for the White Sox, number 2, the second baseman Nelson Fox.

Yes, and Jake often stated that he felt bad for not doing enough and that he wanted to be the pitcher that Kenny traded for. IMO, He's being loyal to KW and the Sox organization here by not testing the market and accepting a two year deal.

We also have plenty of solid young bullpen arms, especially if Santiago ends up in the pen. Time to deal Thornton.

Great news! My wish from the '4 left handers in the rotation' thread has been granted. Now Quintana, Santiago, Leesman, Rodriquez, and anyone else they want to try can battle to the death, gladiator style, for the fifth spot. Much better than needing two of them.

__________________
What is Mind? -- Doesn't Matter!
What is Matter? -- Never Mind!
-Homer Simpson

This is a great move. Since it's a two year deal it doesn't handcuff us financially for years to come and if we tank and he is serviceable odds are SOMEONE will take a chance on him. Our rotation also looks pretty solid (barring injury). The White Sox need to start getting younger but there is no one on the farm that we can use right now, so I suppose it makes sense to continue a sort of holding pattern right now. Hopefully we can re-sign AJ as well.

I've never understood the rationale about trying to trade all the cheap guys who don't cost you anything and have upside.

Besides, with Floyd and Peavy signed, and the Sox already indicating that nine figures is the budget, they will need to jettison some of the bigger contracts to trade to fill 3B and other positions. It will be interesting to see what Hahn does with his first big trades.

I'm not saying that I agree with it, but it's what they've done in the past. I'm actually hoping they attempt to trade young cheap talent for young cheap talent. This is more my thought process since good fits just don't exist on the FA market at 3B and C.

Love this but hope there is a solid insurance policy in case he gets injured. I read somewhere that 50% of Victor Martinez's 2012 salary was covered by insurance which helped convince ownership to sign Fielder. I would hope we would be able to get something close to that just in case (knock on wood).